Locomotive power plant



Nov.- 4, 1930. L. R. BESTER LocQMoTIVE POWER PLANT origial Filed Febfz,195o INVENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Nav. 4, 1930 UNITED STA-Tes PATENToFFIc LoooMoTIvE POWER PLANT original application med February as,

This invention relates to locomotive structures, more particularly tolocomotives hav ing internal combustion engines as sources of power.This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No.432,076, filed Feb. 28, 1930, entitled Miniature locomotive structure. y

The presentinvention is more directly concerned with a type oflocomotive havingy a plurality of sets of driving wheels, generally twoor three sets, and having also additional wheels in the front and rearof the locomotive. The 'power plant consists of an internal combustionengine, a transmisison casing and a gear connection to the drivingwheels which is placed directly above saidwheels. One or more radiatorsfor cooling the circulating water lof the engine is placed at the frontend of the locomotive and the structure is such as to allow air to bedrawn in through the front and thus cool the radiators. If desired aradiator may be placed in the rear end of the locomotive and utilizedfor part or all of the cooling.

'[n the'accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof, the singlefigure is a side view of a locomotive constructed in accordance with thepresent invention, some parts being shown in section, and other partsheilig omitted. I

The structure includes a mainframe 1, -the forward part of which isshown in the drawing,- to which is pivot'ally secured the pilot truck 2.At the rear of the frame is a trailer truck 3 similarly secured. Threepairs or sets of driving wheels 4, 5 and 6 are mounted and held in theframe 1 at approximately the center portion of the locomotive structure.

Securedto the frame and substantially directly above the set of drivingwheels 6 is i an internal combustion engine 7, the driving shaft 8thereof extending rearwardly and' .being connected to a flexible joint 9located 1930, Serial No. 432,076. Divided andl this application filedMay 2,

1930. .Serial Nl'o. 449,112.

axle.

The rear wheels 4.- are sometimes provided with springs 12 to provide aflexible connec- Drivingwheels 5 and 6 are provided with,

springs 13 and 14 respectively, giving a flexible connection to thelocomotive frame. Each of the driving wheels has a crank 15,r the crankson eitherside of the locomotive being secured to aside rod 16 and themiddle driving wheels 5 also have a connecting rod 17 secured to across-head 18 which has a pistonfrod operating in a dummy cylinder 19. Abracket 2O on the frame keeps the cross-head in proper position at alltimes. y

The transmission 21 of the engine is located approximately above drivingwheels 5 and has levers 22 extending rearwardly therefrom into the cabof the engine and terminating in lever 23 whereby the operator mayreadily control the shifting of the transmission gears. Clutch lever 24:has an extension 25 terminating 1n a pedal 26 in the. cab

operates with gear wheel 11 secured to said .s

so that the operator may readily throw the clutch in orout of position.A lever 2T, also in the cab, is connected by' rods to brake shoes29interposed between the several adj acent driving wheels.

A circular radiator 30 is mounted in the front of the locomotive and hassuitable connections for water circulation to the engine' 7 In front ofthe radiator is a circular plate, spaced away from the locomotive shell31 so as to allow currents of air to `pass through the radiator as shownby the arrows. If desired a rectangular radiator may be used in place ofradiator 30 and be held in the locomotive shell 31 by means shown in theoriginal application of which the present case lis a division. .A fan 33draws air through the radiator and thus cools the water. A longitudinalgasoline tank 34, having a filling opening at the top of the locomotiveshell, supplies'fuel to the engine. The exhaust pipe A36 of the engineextends into a smoke stack 37 at the front of the shell so that theexhaust simulates the exhaust of a steam engine.

By the novel arrangement of the several .parts of my locomotive I haveobtained 'a within the confines of the locomotive shell.

This permits .of an exterior appearance of pleasing proportions sothat-the locomotive has the appearance of a modern type of steamlocomotive and the power plant is placed in such a position as toeffectively utilize the limited space and to operate eiciently. Myinvention, although having been described in rather specific terms, isnot limited'to details as those skilled in the art may readily Vary suchdetails within the scope of my invention which is set foi-th in theclaims appendedl hereto.

.What I claim is 1. A locomotive comprising a frame, three sets ofdriving wheels held therein, and an internal combustion engine locatedabove said wheels, and a boiler shell enclosing said en- 0rine.

2. A locomotive comprising a frame, three sets of driving'wheels heldtherein, and an internal combustionengine placed above the forward setof wheels, and a boiler shell enclosing said engine. y

3. 'A locomotive comprising a frame, three sets of driving wheels heldtherein, and an internal combustion engine placed above the forward setof wheels, the drive shaft thereof extending rearwardly, and a boilershell enclosing said engine.

4. A locomotive comprising a frame, three sets of driving Wheels-heldtherein, an internal combustion engine placed above the forward set ofwheels, the drive shaft thereof extending rearwardly, change speedgearing, a shaft extending rearwardly therefrom and a direct drivingconnection to the rear set of wheels, and a boiler shell enclosing' saidengine.

5. A sets of driving wheels held therein, an internal combustion engineplaced above the forward set of wheels, the drive shaft thereofextending rearwardly, change speed gearing, a shaft extending rearwardlytherefrom and a direct driving connection to the rear set of wheels by aworm and wheel arrangement, and a boiler shell enclosing said engine.

locomotive comprising a frame, three a gear wheel mounted on the axle ofthe rear driving wheels and meshing with said worm, and a iexible jointon said shaft located ust forward of said rear driving wheels, and aboiler shell enclosing said engine.

8. A locomotive comprising a frame, three sets of driving wheels heldtherein, an internal combustion engine placed above the forwardl set ofwheels, the drive shaft thereof extending rearwardly, a worm on saidshaft, a gear wheel mounted on the axle of the rear driving wheels andmeshing with said worm, a exible joint on said shaft located justforward of said rear driving wheels, and a transmission casing locatedabove the center driving wheels, and a boiler shell enclosing saidengine.

9. A locomotive comprising a frame, three sets of driving wheels heldtherein, an internal combustion engine placed above the forward set ofwheels, the drive shaft thereof extending rearwardly, a worm on saidshaft, a gear Wheel mounted on the axle of the rear driving wheels andmeshing' with said Worin.

a flexible joint on said shaft located just foi.

ward of said rear driving wheels, a transmission casing located abovethe center driving wheels, and a boiler shell enclosing said engine,casing, joint and worm.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th dayof April, 1930.

LEONARD R. BESTER.

. 6. A locomotive comprising a frame, three sets of driving wheels heldtherein, an internal combustion engine placed above the for- Ward set ofwheels, the drive shaft thereof extending rearwardly, a worm on saidshaft, and a gear Wheel mounted on the axle of the rear driving wheelsand meshing with said worm, and a boiler shell enclosing said engine.

7 A locomotive comprising a frame, three sets of driving wheels heldtherein, an internal combustion engine placed above the forward set ofwheels, the drive shaft thereof extending rearwardly, a worin on saidshaft,

